Apparatus to support at least one compressed gas cylinder for assisting with safely assembling SCUBA Gear

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to support at least one compressed gas SCUBA cylinder for assisting with safely assembling SCUBA Gear. With one or more receptacles, circular in shape, that are slightly larger in diameter than the SCUBA cylinders that they are meant to accommodate and are just deep enough to provide vertical support to the cylinder, preventing cylinder from falling over, a horizontal support onto which receptacles would be permanently mounted that would provide a substructure on which the bottom of the cylinder(s) would rest, a vertical support bar permanently attached to and descending from horizontal support bar, having a plurality of holes to accommodate height adjustment, and a second horizontal bar, inserted into existing vehicle trailer receiver at one end with a collar on the opposite end to receive the vertical support bar with a set of holes to set a pin through to support vertical bar at different heights.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of SCUBA Diving and more specifically to an apparatus that is anchored by utilizing a vehicle's existing trailer hitch receiver to support at least one compressed gas SCUBA cylinder for assisting with safely assembling SCUBA Gear.

This invention relates generally to the field of SCUBA Diving and more specifically to an apparatus to support at least one compressed gas SCUBA cylinder for assisting with safely assembling SCUBA Gear.

SCUBA Diving is both labor and equipment intensive. In preparing to dive, a person must assemble a “SCUBA Unit” which is comprised of at least one compressed gas cylinder, a buoyancy compensation device which is a vest that one inflates or deflates to maintain neutral buoyancy in the water as well as providing anchoring points to hold equipment, enough lead weight to compensate for for the positive buoyancy of the human body and exposure suits. In addition, other equipment is also attached to the unit depending on the requirements of a particular dive. Inflatable buoys, dive reels, slates, knives and collection bags are just some of the most common items used and attached to the buoyancy compensator.

This assembly process usually occurs on the ground, a picnic bench, on the tailgate of a pickup or out of the trunk of a car. Often times, during or after assembly, equipment falls, causing medical injury and damage to equipment. Also, it is necessary to have another individual hold up or hold stable another person's equipment while they don it. If a large individual and a small individual are diving together, the smaller person may not be able to support the gear of the larger person.

Without a means of stable support of the SCUBA cylinder, and therefore the SCUBA unit and all the attached equipment, the risk of personal injury, equipment damage and the fatigue experienced prior to and after diving is greatly increased.

I do not know of any other apparatus that has been designed to support SCUBA gear for the purpose of assembly and donning and doffing.

I have seen vehicle hitch mounted accessories for items that provide storage and transportation, but never have seen the concept used for a method of assembly.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide support for one or more SCUBA Cylinders by a singular means so that there is 360 degree access to said cylinder(s) for the purpose of assembling the SCUBA Unit(s).

Another object of the invention is to provide complete stability for heavy SCUBA equipment to prevent injury to divers or equipment due to cylinders and/or assembled SCUBA units falling over.

A further object of the invention is to hold assembled SCUBA Unit(s) at a convenient height so that a SCUBA Diver can don equipment without assistance.

Yet another object of the invention is to receive assembled SCUBA Unit(s) at a convenient height so that a SCUBA Diver can doff equipment without assistance.

Another object of the invention is to provide support by utilizing a vehicle's existing trailer hitch receiver.

Still yet another object of the invention is to provide easy one step assembly and adjustment of apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide easy disassembly and storage.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed an apparatus to support at least one compressed gas SCUBA cylinder for assisting with safely assembling SCUBA Gear comprising: One or more receptacles, circular in shape, that are slightly larger in diameter than the SCUBA cylinders that they are meant to accommodate and are just deep enough to provide the cylinder complete vertical support, creating a singular point of vertical support, preventing SCUBA cylinder from falling over, an upper support bar onto which the circular receptacles are permanently mounted, that provides a substructure for horizontal support to the base of the SCUBA cylinder. A vertical support bar permanently attached to and descending from the upper support bar which that features a plurality of apertures to provide for adjustable height. A collar to accommodate the previously mentioned vertical support bar, with apertures on either side. A hitch pin to hold apparatus at desired height by setting through aligned apertures of vertical support and collar, and a lower horizontal support bar that is fixed with previously mentioned collar to accommodate vertical support bar as well as fit into a vehicle's existing trailer hitch receiver to provide the base support for entire apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, assembled with an illustration of one cylinder seated in a receptacle and one cylinder elevated to demonstrate the featured concept of the support receptacle.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the invention demonstrating the vertical support in conjunction with the lower horizontal support and the intended use of the adjustment apertures.

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the orientation of the circular receptacles the upper horizontal support bar as well as illustrating the collar that is described as attached to the lower horizontal support bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

Referring to FIG. 1, the intended embodiment of the apparatus is demonstrated. The main apparatus which is comprised of an upper horizontal support 50 on top of which, at either end is permanently attached (welded) circular receptacles 60 and 70 that have an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the SCUBA compressed gas cylinder(s) 200 and 210 that will be supported by inserting the base of SCUBA compressed gas cylinder(s) 200 and 210 into the receptacles 60 and 70 and resting the bottom of the cylinder(s) 200 and 210 onto the upper horizontal support bar 50. The receptacles 60 and 70 are constructed with a wall of sufficient thickness and height to be deep enough to prevent the intended compressed gas cylinder(s) 200 and 210 from leaning to such an angle as to cause the supported compressed gas cylinder(s) 200 and 210 to fall from the receptacle 60 and 70, creating a singular method of support eliminating the need for any additional support or restraint, thus providing 360 degree access to the compressed gas cylinder(s) 200 and 210, facilitating an easier, safer environment to prepare the SCUBA Unit for use. Permanently attached to (welded) and descending from horizontal support 50 is vertical support 40 which has a plurality of apertures 100 placed at intervals from top to bottom to provide for a means of height adjustment when used in conjunction with collar 20.

Lower horizontal support 10 which is comprised of square tubing of the correct size for the intended vehicle's existing trailer receiver is inserted into the vehicle's existing trailer hitch receiver. At the end of lower horizontal support 10 that is inserted into the vehicle's existing trailer hitch receiver, there are two apertures 110 that will align with the vehicle's existing trailer receiver apertures so that hitch pin 90 can be inserted through the four apertures providing an anchor point for the apparatus. On the opposite end of lower horizontal support 10 is permanently attached (welded) collar 20. Collar 20 has two apertures 30 to accommodate vertical support 40 which has a plurality of apertures 100 equally spaced along the support to accommodate vertical adjustment. Vertical support 40 is inserted into collar 20 and adjusted to desired height by inserting the hitch pin 80 through the apertures 30 on collar 20 into the appropriate apertures 100 on vertical support 40 to achieve the desired height of receptacles 60 and 70. Also important in the construction of lower horizontal support bar 10 is that it is made of sufficient length to hold the apparatus far enough from the anchoring vehicle to aid in achieving the 360 degree access to the supported cylinders.

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the apparatus, displaying circular receptacles 60 and 70 permanently attached to upper horizontal support bar 50 and vertical support bar 40 which is also permanently attached to upper horizontal support bar 50.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing circular receptacle 60 attached to upper horizontal support bar 50, vertical support bar 40 including the vertical adjustment apertures 100, and lower horizontal support bar 10 including collar 20 which contains the apertures 30 that will align with apertures 100 to provide for adjustable vertical support and at the opposite end of lower support bar 10 are the apertures 110 to anchor the apparatus to the existing vehicle trailer hitch receiver using hitch pin 90.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the orientation of the receptacles 60 and 70 on horizontal support bar 50 onto which they are permanently attached (welded) and and a view of lower horizontal support bar 10 demonstrating the relationship that provides the 360 degree access to the support apparatus.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the order of assembly and usage is that lower horizontal support bar 10 is inserted into existing vehicles trailer hitch receiver (not shown) and apertures 110 are aligned with existing apertures in vehicle's trailer receiver and secured with hitch pin 90, The vertical support bar portion of the apparatus 40 is then inserted into collar 20 and held at the desired height by aligning the appropriate apertures 100 with apertures 30 and inserting hitch pin 80, thus completing assembly.

To use, after arriving at the dive site, the device is assembled and a compressed gas SCUBA cylinder 200 or 210 is placed into one of the receptacles 60 or 70 and rested onto upper horizontal bar 50. Horizontal bar 50 provides the substructure that prevents the cylinder(s) 200 and 210 from falling though receptacle 60 and 70 while receptacles 60 and 70 provide vertical support to the cylinder(s) 200 and 210, preventing the cylinder(s) from falling over.

The SCUBA diver may now safely attach the buoyancy compensating device (not shown) to the cylinder 200 or 210 and attach the regulator assembly to the cylinder 200 or 210 and in turn, may complete assembly and attach all necessary weights and peripheral equipment to the buoyancy compensating device. Once the SCUBA Unit is safely assembled, all the diver needs to do is back into the buoyancy compensating device and strap it onto her/his torso, adjust the SCUBA Unit as needed to fit and simply raise the cylinder 200 or 210 out of the receptacle 60 or 70 by raising their ankles and they are prepared to enter the water.

Upon completion of the dive, the diver backs up to the apparatus and positions the cylinder 200 or 210 into the receptacle 60 or 70 and releases the buoyancy compensating device and steps away from the assembled gear. Disassembly of the SCUBA gear is made appreciably easier when supported in this apparatus.

The device is then easily disassembled and stored.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus to support at least one compressed gas SCUBA cylinder for assisting with safely assembling SCUBA Gear comprising: One or more receptacles, circular in shape, that are slightly larger in diameter than the SCUBA cylinders that they are meant to accommodate and and of sufficient height to provide the cylinder complete vertical support, creating a singular point of vertical support, preventing SCUBA cylinder from falling over; An upper support bar onto which the circular receptacles are permanently mounted, that provides a substructure for horizontal support to the base of the SCUBA cylinder; A vertical support bar permanently attached to and descending from the upper support bar which that features a plurality of apertures to provide for adjustable height; A collar to accommodate the previously mentioned vertical support bar, with apertures on either side; A hitch pin to hold apparatus at desired height by setting through aligned apertures of vertical support and collar; and A lower horizontal support bar that is fixed with previously mentioned collar to accommodate vertical support bar as well as fit into a vehicle's existing trailer hitch receiver to provide the base support for entire apparatus. 